NEW MANAGER?

As we compile our notes on Monday morning, we still await news on who will be announced as the new manager of the Irish men’s senior team. Since November the FAI have kept everyone in suspense and in January we were told the announcement will be “imminent”. We were hearing imminent so often we consulted our dictionary for what the word actually meant. But lo and behold, the word disappeared from the FAI spokespeople in March and then we were told an announcement will be made when the Irish women’s team had played their two opening group games in early April.

When the announcement will be made, it will have taken a minimum of five months for the FAI to select who they believe is the right candidate. Is there any other national association that would have taken so long in acquiring a head coach or manager? At this stage, this is an embarrassment and a sort of fun on social media. So many names have been mentioned that are assumed strong candidates for the post, and yet we read a number have said they are not interested. Maybe next week in our notes we will be able to disclose who the new saviour of the international team will be. Don’t hold your breath on expectations and don’t blame us if we do not know by the weekend. We all live in hope.

But whoever will be announced as the new head coach, he will have two friendly fixtures in June with Hungary as visitors to the Aviva on Tuesday, 4th June and a week later, Ireland will play Portugal in Averio.

The UEFA Nations League commences in September with the Republic of Ireland in Group B1, along with England, Greece and Finland.

Ireland’s first game in the Nations League will then be at the Aviva against England on Saturday, 5th September. Three days later Ireland will also be at home v Greece.